Can-body-making machine



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. H. MURGH & J. A. GRAY.. CAN BODY MAKING MACHINE.

' .No. 495,426. Patented Apr. 11, 1893.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFLCE.

JOHN H. MUROH AND JAMES A. GRAY, OF SAN FRANCISCO, OALIEOBNIA, ASSIGNOBS TO ROBERT D. HUME, OF GOLD BEACH, OREGON.

CAN-BODY-MAKING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 495,426, dated April 11, 1893. Application filed December 13, 1892- Serial No. 455,042. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN H. MUROH and J AMES ALFRED GRAY, citizens of the United States, residing in the city and county of San Francisco, State of California, have invented an Improvement in Oan-Body-Making Machines; and we hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

Our invention relates to an apparatus for the manufacture of can bodies.

It consists in certain details of construction which will be more fully explained by referencetotheaccompanyingdrawings,inwhich Figure 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus. Fig. 2 is a plan view. Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of the forming of the hook, and it also shows the front end of the former, the arrows indicating the travel of the sheet of metal. Fig. 4 is a vertical cross section on the line ccac of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a similar section on line y-y of Fig. 2. Fig. 6. is a similar section on line zz of Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a detail view of the straightening device.

The object of this invention is to form and complete can bodies and other tubular ware at a single operation. Upon a suitable framework or support A is mounted a former B which may be made of cast metal or other suitable material. The rear end of this former is nearly fiat, being curved upward a little at the outer edges, and from this the curvature gradually increases until at a point sufficiently distant from the rear end, the sides have been drawn together until they form a cylindrical horn around which the sheet of metal has been wrapped by its gradual advance from the rear end of the former to its cylindrical portion. Exterior to this former is another former or a plate of metal O, which is correspondingly shaped at the rearend, and gradually curves toward the front to form a sheath 0 until itself is closed around the former as shown at O, forming an annular channel around the horn within which the tubular sheet of metal is contained. This plate 0 is formed or provided with a table 0 and is supported at sucha distance from the lower and outer sides of the former B, as to leave ample space for the passage of the sheet of tin between it and the former B. I

former B and plate O by means of carriers D,

the lowerends of which are hinged to the chain links E, as shown, and the upper ends project through slots in the table portion of the plate 0, and travel within corresponding guiding channels F in the lower part of the to.

former B. These channels and the corresponding slots in the plate 0 are gradually carried up around the sides of the former and the exterior plate, as the latter are drawn together and approach the cylindrical form un- 6 5 til when the cylinder form is complete, these carriers stand upon opposite sides of the cylindrical horn. In order to allow these carriers to gradually change their position as they move over this distance, they are loosely 7o hinged to the inner sides of the links of which the carrying chain is composed, as plainly shown in the sectional view, Figs. 4 and 5, and they are thus allowed to turn about these links from an approximately vertical to a horizontal position, thus presenting the carrying edges against the edge of the sheet of metal so as to advance the latter continu ously from the time it enters the apparatus until it is discharged at the oppositeend. So

The chains which move the carriers pass around sprocket wheels G and G at opposite ends of the apparatus. There is one of these chains upon each side of the apparatus, and

they pass around the sprocket wheels G within 8 5 the curved inclosing extensions of the plate O,

and the guide slots in the plate 0 are widened at their entrance to allow the carrier heads to enter the slots as they come up around the pulleys G.

The sheets of metal from which the tubes are to be formed are cut to the proper length and width for the particular article whichis to be made. This may be a can of any desired size, or the apparatus may be used to 5 make lengths of stove pipe or any other tubular ware.

We have in the present case described the born as being cylindrical in shape, but it will be manifest that it may be made polygo- 10o nal, and any shape given to the ware which is being made upon it.

A sheet of metal islaid upon the top of the table portion of the plate 0 and when a pair of the carriers D arrive, they strike the rear edge of the sheet, and it is forced beneath a plate I which is situated sufficiently above the plate 0 to allow the thickness of this sheet of metal to pass between them.

At each end, just outside of the plate I, are ournaled upon pins the flanged rollers J, J and J and K, K and K Upon one side these rollers are made to fold over one edge of the sheet of metal from below to form a hook over the upper edge of the sheet, and upon the other side the hook shape is formed 111 the opposite direction. The edge of the plate I which is adjacent to the rollers J, has a projecting flange I, and when the sheet of metal reaches the first roller J the edge is turned up by the inclined central portion of the roller and the edge I of the plate. The second roller J has a flange at the bottom similar to the roller J, and the body extends upward cylindrically from this flange. When the metal reaches this roller it is still further turned into a vertical flange passing between the roller and the flange I of the plate. The roller J is made with a flange at both top and bottom, and a grooved channel between the two, as shown, into which the edge I of the plate I projects so that the partially turned sheet of metal when it passes between these two is folded over so as to form the hook which constitutes one side of the seam of the can when the latter is complete. The hook upon the opposite edge is correspondingly formed by the rollers K, K and K and the edge of the plate 0, which acts in the same manner as the flange I of the plate I. The flanged rollers K, K and K stand in the reverse position from the rollers J on the opposite side, and, therefore, the hook flange is turned downwardly upon this side. The

edge of the plate I which is adjacent to the rollers K on this side, is vertical and the flange is turned between the projection of the plate 0 and the rollers K, K, K The carriers D continuing to move the sheet of metal, it next passes between the plates B and 0, between which there is just sufficient space for it to move. The increasing ourvature of these plates, as they extend outward from the receiving end, brings them gradually into a cylindrical form, and the sheet of metal is thus folded into that form. One edge of the sheath 0 is carried a little above the other where the two are brought together as at O, and this carries the folded edge upon that side of the sheet of metal beyond the folded edge upon the other side, as shown in the cross section, Fig. 4. The sheath 0 terminates at this point, and is held in place by a band a. Beyond this band extends a guide plateT of about the same curvature as the horn and terminating in a downwardly extending vertical flange t, and a small elevated guide I) is made upon the horn atthis point extending from one side toward the center. When the folded sheet leaves the inclosingband or its elasticity tends to straighten it out, and this will throw the inner hook up against the outer one, which is still held in place by the guide plate T, and this brings the two hooks into position to be locked together. This is effected bya gradual enlargement of the horn at this point. The edge of the inner hook now moves in contact with the elevated guide I), and the outer hook against the extension 25 of the guide plate T. These guides direct the seam along the center of the top of the horn. In order to keep the two parts of the seam even and prevent one from slipping beyond the other, they strike against the edges of a U shaped piece V which is connected with a bell crank lever 12, and this is controlled by a spring 2;. The lever 'v is fulcrumed between two arms U, the lower ends of which extend forward and form inclines w as shown, upon which two studs v project ing from the ends of the piece V are adapted to travel when they reach that point. Now when the forward edge of the body is moved against the arms V the spring 1; will resist their further advance with sufficient pressure to even up the two sides of the seam, but the continued pressure of the carriers finally overcomes the spring, the lever 12 moves backward and allows the studs 11 to move up the inclines w, and this raises the arms of V so as to allow the can body or other article to pass beneath them. From this point they pass beneath the closing device which may consist either of a roller, as shown at L, which presses over the corresponding support in the horn, and thus closes the seam, or it may be closed by the compression of a stamp or cam actuated device if preferred. In the present case the roller is journaled in a frame Z which carries the arms U and the spring 0. If the seam is to be flat on the outside, thehorn has a grooved roller (1' set in it to allow the seam to be pressed into it by the roller, but if the seam is to project on the outside, the roller a in the top of the horn is smooth and the groove is made in the upper roller L.

For long seams a continuously acting roller is very efficient. When a roller is employed to close the seam, the shaft is driven fromthe' shaft of the chain sprocket-wheels G by means of a belt N passing around a pulley upon this shaft, and thence around a pulley 0 upon the shafts of the seam forming roller. From the end of the born, the carriers take the cylinder with its closed seam, and if it is not to be soldered it may be delivered at once, as in the case of lengths of stove-pipe, but if it is a can which is to be soldered, it passes off the end of the horn upon a second hollow cylindrical horn P, which has a channel or trough Q formed in its upper surface. This trough is filled with solder, and above it is a bar or support R upon which are fulcrumed the soldering irons S. These irons have projecting pivots upon eachv side of the upper end which rest in slots made in the upper ICC these soldering irons normally rest in the.

solder'trough Q. As each can is delivered from beneath the seam forming rollers or stamps, the seam remaining uppermost passes beneath a tube X which delivers acid from the receptacle Y upon the passing seam. The cylinder continuing to move is next carried beneath the soldering irons S which are lifted up by it as it passes over the cylindrical. iron P,'and the lower ends of these soldering irons are dragged across the seam, thus soldering the latter and making a tight joint. The carriers then deliver the completed can body at the end of the supporting hornupon which they have been soldered ready for further operation of any description.

In order to'keep the solder in the trough Q properly heated, we have shown a gas tube Z which passes through the center of the hollow cylindrical portion of the former B and has burners through which the gas is burned beneath the solder trough within the supporting horn P, thus keeping the solder at a sufficient heat within the trough. After'leaving the band a'the carriers travel upon independent guides m which extend parallel with the soldering apparatus, and by which the carriers are held close to the cylinder over which the can is being carried by them.

f is a roller which supports the horn opposite to the presser roller and the first section of the horn terminates at this point. The

continuation P of the horn which containsthe solder trough Q is attached to the previous section by means of tongues, screws or any convenient means, while the outer end of this hollow horn rests upon a roller f mounted upon the same shaft which carriesthe pulleys G. A plate 1' suspends the front end of the former B.

Having thus described our invention,what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A can body making machine consisting of the former and corresponding sheath plate having an approximately flat shape at the rear or receiving end and a channel within which the sheet of metal is received between the two, channels formed in the interior and exterior plates, carriers projecting through said channels and engaging the rear edges of the sheet of metal to be formed whereby the latter is moved from the rear to the front end of the former and its position changed from a fiat to a cylindrical form between the former plates, substantially as herein described.

2. A can body forming machine consisting of the forming plates and carriers, one of the plates being extended to form a horizontal table behind the point of entrance between the forming plates, flanged rollers journaled upon opposite edges of the table, a plate I supported above the table and between the opposite sets of rollers, said plate having a flange between which and the flanges of the rollers one edge of the sheet of metal is forced and curved so as to form the interlocking edge of the seam, on one side substantially as herein described.

8. A can body making machine consisting of the flanged rollers journaled at opposite sides of the table, a plate I supported above said table to form a space through which the sheet of metal may pass, saidplate and table having flanges projecting and corresponding with those of the oppositely placed rollers whereby interlocking curved edges are formed upon the sheet, former plates 13 and 0 between which the sheet of metal is delivered, and by which the edges are drawn toward each other until the sheet is bent into cylindrical form, the edges of the plate 0 overlapping each other at the cylindrical portion whereby the two edges of the sheet are hooked together to form a seam, seam closing rollers by which the seam is locked, endless traveling chains having carriers D hinged to them and adapted to engage the rear edges of the sheets to carry them through the apparatus substantially as herein described. I

4. A can body making machine consisting of the seam turning rollers and plates and the body forming plates extending continuously therefrom, endless chains having carriers D hinged to the links so as to be automatically movable around their points of support, and channels extending through and into the formin g plates in which the ends of the carriers are adapted to travel, said channels being curved from anapproximately horizontal position at the receiving end of the former to a position upon opposite sides of the cylindrical horn where the complete cylindrical can is shaped, substantially as herein described.

5. A can body making machine consisting of the receiving table, the rollers by which the seam flanges are turned upon the opposite edges of said table, forming plates between which the sheet of metal is received and by which it is made into a cylindrical form, devicesby which the seam is closed after the edges are interlocked, a solder containing trough situated in the upper part of the extension over which the completed cylinder passes, an acid tank and delivery pipe beneath which the seam passes, soldering irons suspended from above with their lower ends resting in the solder trough, said irons being pressed over the seam as the can passes beneath them, and an endless traveling chain having carriers hinged thereto adapted to engage the rear edges of the sheet of metal to first force it between the rollers which form the seam flanges, and afterward between the forming plates by which it is formed into a cylinder and the edges of the seam interlocked, and finally to convey the completed can body over the soldering extension and deliver it at the outer inga solder containing trough in its upper side, soldering irons having the upper ends flexibly supported and the lower ends dipping into the solder trough, and mechanism by which the cans are moved over the horn and the seam passed beneath the soldering iron as described.

7. In a can body making machine, carriers by which the sheets of metal are moved over the former, consisting of endless traveling chains E and carrier blocks D hinged to the sides of thechain links adjacent to the former and movable about their fulcrum points at right angles with the direction of travel of the chain, to adjust themselves automatically to the changing positions of the sheets as they move along the former as described.

8. In a can body makingmachine, the flange turning rollers and plates, the body forming plates extending therefrom, and carriers by which the sheets of metal are moved along the former and bent into a cylindrical shape, the curved guide Tnear the discharge end of the forming plates having a downwardly extending flange, a guide 1) upon the horn near the flange and extendingfrom one side toward the center substantially as herein described.

9. In a can body making machine, the flange turning rollers and plates, the body forming plates extending therefrom and carriers by which the sheets of metal are moved along theformer and bent into a cylindrical form, guides to direct the seam along the top of the horn and means for keeping the two parts of the seam even, substantially as herein described.

10. In a can body forming machine, the body forming plates and carriers by which the sheets of metal are bent into a cylindrical form and previously formed hook flanges upon the edges are interlocked, guides to retainthe seam in position,and the barVwith studs 0 a spring actuated lever ti and the arms U having the inclined extension to whereby the two sides of the seam are made even, andthe bar thus raised to allow the can body to pass, substantially as herein described.

11. In a can body forming machine, the body forming plates, carriers and devices for evening the sides of the interlocked seam, and the closing device consisting of a fiat and a grooved roller journaled, one above and one within the horn, between which the seam passes, and a roller f beneath the horn, substantially as herein described.

12. In a can body forming machine, the forming plates and a horn. in which they terminate, means for interlocking and closing the seam, a channeled horn P containing solder over which the cans pass after the seamsare closed, carriersand chains by which they are moved, guide channels for the carriers upon the sides ot the former, and supplemental guides and supports m upon oppositesidesof the horn P, as herein described. a

In witness whereof wehave hereunto set our hands.

- JOHN H. MURGH.

JAMES A. GRAY. Witnesses:

S. H. NOURSE,

J. A. BAYLESS. 

